as in partial
inclined to favor one side over another
a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also partizan
1
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in militant
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sectarian
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices
she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of partisan
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The White House has repeatedly pushed to halt the flow of billions of dollars to California and other states led by Democrats, a strategy that has sharpened partisan tensions and expanded the scope of California’s legal fight against the administration.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
The perception is that only like-minded DeSantis partisans, preferably with inside connections, need apply.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Adjective
That viewpoint crossed geographic and partisan lines.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
The White House has repeatedly pushed to halt the flow of billions of dollars to California and other states led by Democrats, a strategy that has sharpened partisan tensions and expanded the scope of California’s legal fight against the administration.
—Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Reaching new voters Most Democrats accept Texas’ GOP tilt, saying their best chance lies in attracting more younger voters, disaffected nonvoters, teachers, service workers and soft partisans who often skip nonpresidential elections.
—Karen Brooks Harper, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
The perception is that only like-minded DeSantis partisans, preferably with inside connections, need apply.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
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The council also approved the appointment of Josiah Ben-Oni Graham to fill a partial-term vacancy that expires in November.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2026
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But as the title character and a partial avatar for Williamson — who had similarly spent his own teen years dreamily pining and aspiring to be a filmmaker — Dawson was the boy-next-door pillar around which the show orbited.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The men – Tyler Smith, Kyle Moreino and Joseph Shepard – are adherents of Native American religious traditions, according to the ACLU.—
Katie Mulvaney,
The Providence Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
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In a statement, Imran Ghani, executive director of CAIR-Houston, said the move effectively blocks Muslim families from accessing the program to send their children to schools that align with their values, as adherents of other faiths are able to do.—
Silas Allen,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Israel said four soldiers were killed by militants in Gaza over the same period.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
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Israel has said four of its soldiers have been killed by Palestinian militants in the same period.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.—
Joshua Alston,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2023
Adjective
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The hostile bid came as Nexstar Media Group agreed to acquire Tegna, in a $6 billion transaction that would run afoul of the FCC’s 39% ownership cap; Nexstar has filed for a waiver to the ownership cap.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
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The 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer’s celebration of Hispanic culture could hardly have arrived at a more hostile moment for Latinos.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Named after the 19th-Century Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister Viscount Palmerston, the cat quickly garnered a large online fanbase, boasting nearly 100,000 followers as of Tuesday who closely tracked his adventures across Westminster.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Austin was a fearless leader, a gracious man, a devoted father and husband, and a faithful follower of Christ.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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To now endure censure by overzealous anti-Pretendian crusaders, and banishment by bureaucratic tribal decrees and reactionary blood-quantum rules, feels particularly bitter.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
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For now, privacy crusaders are left to wait.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Little has been accomplished, and Labour’s woes seem likely to benefit the Reform Party, a new nationalist, populist outfit led by the Brexit instigator Nigel Farage.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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And also to warn about bloodshed if civil war follows regime change, bloodshed between nationalists and those who’ve had enough of being tied to a constantly unstable country.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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